Folding table



H. SCHULZ FOLDING TABLE mac. w, 1935.

Filed April 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Henr' y 5010/:

ATTORNEY.

H, SCHULZ FOLDING TABLE Dam. 1935 Filed April 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig. 6.

INVENTOR. 16 Henry Jc/w/z v Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables with particular reference tosuch as are capable of being collapsed into a compact form fortransportation and storage or extended for service at will.

An object of the invention is to provide a table suitable for general orspecial use, firm and rigid when extended and when folded to present twoflat outer surfaces between which the legs, braces and other parts areenclosed.

A further feature is in the provision of a knock down table assembled ordismantled without the use of any tools and which presents the usualappearance of a conventional table, being devoid of awkward, cumbersomefeatures.

Another purpose is to produce a table of this type at a moderate cost ofmanufacture, well adapted for the many purposes for which a table isused.

These and other valuable features which will appear as the descriptionprogresses, are accomplished by the novel and practical construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part ofthis disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention asassembled for service.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire table structure as folded.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken online 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 6-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, it will be .seen that thetable top is composed of two flat plates, designated respectively 15-15,of uniform size, each being provided, on their under side, with outerend cleats 16-16 and side cleats 11-11, constituting a'frame workslightly inset from the extreme edges of the plates.

At their inner, adjacent edges are similar but wider cleats 19-19 heldtogether by pairs of hinges 20 allowing the plates to move through anangle of ninety degrees.

When folded, the plates may be secured by hooks 21, engaging studs 22,in the opposite members.

Other pairs of hinges 23-24 fixed on the cleats 19-19 connect transversestrips 25-26 to which are rigidly engaged pairs of braces 21-28, in turnfixed to another pair of strips 29-30, connected by hinges 31-32, to theupper edges of cross members 33-34, which connect between legs 35-36near their bottom.

These legs 35-36 are also cross connected at their upper ends by crosspieces 31-38 in which are set pins 39-40 adapted to slide freely inslots 41-42 formed in the frame elements 11-11, these slots beinginclined slightly upward at their 10 inner, adjacent end as best seen inFigure 5, while the cross pieces 31-38 are free to move between theelements 11-11.

A pair of oppositely dispose-d bars 43-44 are connected by hinges 45-46to the cross members 5 33-34 at the bottom of the legs and are alsoconnected together at their inner contacting ends by another hinge 4'1.

Slidable over the hinge 41 is a clasp 48 adapted to retain the hinge ina fixed position when its 20 leaves are fully extended as shown inFigures 1 and 5.

Distanced equally from the hinge 41 are hinged clips 49-50 acting asstops for the clasp when moved in either direction. 5

In operation, the table being erected as in Figure 1, and it is desiredto fold it into the position shown in Figures '4 and 6, the clasp 48 ismoved to clear the hinge 41; then the bars 43-44 are raised, the legsmoved inwardly at their upper ends, causing the pins 39 to travel in theslots until substantially parallel with the braces 21-28, all theseseveral parts being folded against the under side of the plates 15-16,which are then turned on their hinges 20, forming a housing asindicated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a table of readily collapsibleor extensible nature has been disclosed in its preferred embodiment, butit is manifest that minor changes may be made within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and soughtto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A table comprising two fiat plates having border frames, their sideelements being longitudinally slotted in their inner surfaces, hingesconnecting said frames at the adjacent edges of the plates, legs havingpins movable in the frame slots, a bar extending longitudinally betweenthe 50 bottom of said legs, said bar consisting of two hingedlyconnected sections adapted to fold upwardly, a clasp movable over thebar hinge thereby to render it rigid, and pairs of braces hinged attheir upper ends to the juxtaposed border frames and at their lower endsto said legs, said legs, braces and bar being foldable closely againstsaid plates within the spaceincluded in said border frames when thetable is collapsed.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of equal plates constituting thetable top, a border frame on the under side of each plate, the sideelements of each frame having longitudinal grooves in their innersurfaces, pairs of legs having pins movable in the grooves, hingesconnecting said plates carried by said frames, cross members betweeneach pair of legs at their upper ends, other cross members connectingthe legs at their lower ends,"

braces normally diagonally disposed between the juxtaposed frameelements and the lower cross members, a two part bar connectinglongitudinally, between said lower cross members, the parts of said barbeing hinged together, and means slidable 7 on said bar to render thebar hinge rigid when in one position and allow the bar to fold on itshinge when in another position, all of said legs, braces and connectionsbeing housed in the space when the table is folded.

HENRY SCHULZ.

between said plates within said border frame 10

